When is barking OK? And when should you cure it? My two miniature schnauzers are adorable and relatively well trained.
The eldest is distinctly neurotic and very soft due to too much petting and treating from day one.
18 months later we then got her a sister who is feisty, easy to train and balanced.
When choosing the breed a site ominously advised they are " vocal" which roughly translates as yappy terriers.
Things that make them bark:

1. People coming to the house.
   This is acceptable as I want to be informed.
   They do however have to stop after the door has opened and site obediently.
   Still working on this one!
2. In the back garden, looking through the fence.
   This is unacceptable and has become a nuisance with the neighbours.
   They are clever as each time they did this I made them come back inside with a stern voice.
   They have now stopped.
   
3. At other dogs whilst out walking.
   The youngest one wags her tail and does not bark and greets other dogs correctly.
   The oldest one is terrible.
   Her heckles rise down her back, she then starts running very quickly towards the person or dog whilst yapping loudly.
   My cries of "she is very soft, please don't worry" get lost in translation when the recipient is petrified of dogs and is pinned to the fence.
   Other dogs with aggressive temperaments don't listen to my reasoning either as they pin her to the floor or circle her menacingly.
   Other people give disparaging glances to us both about her lack of control and my lack of discipline.
   
4. At anyone within a 2 metre radius.
   This progressively got worse and action was needed.
   

The failed cures.

• Dog training did not work.
  
• Not fussing or being affectionate with her and treating her as a dog and not a human did not work.
  Food did not work as she couldn't hear as she was running at hyper speed.
  
• Keeping her on a lead made us both miserable and the youngest would not run off and leaver her with me.
  Or if the youngest was feeling mean she would taunt her that she was loose.
  The barking even on a lead continued.
  
• Timing of walks did not work except at 1:00am in the morning and even though I go to bed late this was ridiculous.
  

The cure that worked Final resort was a dog collar that squirts citrus oil when they bark.
This was genius and was not cruel like the electric shock collars I had discovered whilst searching for cures.
I found this on eBay for £ 35.
You put batteries in and it is the size of a box of matches.
Check that it is the right way up and fasten it on with a simple clip mechanism; you can leave their collar on.
We walked out with trepidation and I still felt cruel.
However, as soon as she barked once the spray squirted up under her nose.
She jumped to one side with surprise.
She stopped immediately and carried on walking.
She did the same again 100 yards further along the road.
The same again; one bark, startled and jumped and then carried on.
It took 2 walks and 1 day to cure this barking.
She no longer wears it and it is a joy to take her for a walk again.
However she is making up for it with greeting visitors to the house so I am debating whether to make her wear it once more.